The Australian Government has announced three new business partnerships to deliver off-grid renewable energy to remote and rural communities in Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu. 

The Off-Grid Renewable Energy Partnerships are part of the Australian Government’s Pacific Climate Infrastructure Financing Partnership (PCIFP) initiative to expand the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific’s (AIFFP) climate investments. 

It does this by partnering with businesses to deliver reliable and sustainable renewable energy to remote and rural communities in the Pacific and Timor-Leste, implemented by the Business Partnerships Platform (BPP) - Australia’s flagship program for collaboration with businesses to tackle development challenges.

Under the new business partnerships Papua New Guinea will see improved energy infrastructure at New Ireland’s Lemakot Health Facility and the Raihu Rural Hospital in Aitape through a partnership with Caritas Australia, Catholic Church Health Services, and the Australian Government, enhancing energy accessibility and reliability for essential healthcare services.

Timor-Leste will benefit from clean solar energy to enhance critical health infrastructure at four sites in Cova-Lima Province. MEA Power Up and Master Electricians Australia, together with the Australian Government, will ensure medical clinics and water pumping sites receive reliable energy.

Vanuatu will tackle the growing issue of solar e-waste through a circular economy project. The University of New South Wales, Vanuatu Disability Promotion Advocacy Association, Vanuatu Institute of Technology, and the Vanuatu Department of Energy, in partnership with the Australian Government, will manage and reduce e-waste from solar energy systems.

These partnerships demonstrate the Australian Government’s commitment to investing in sustainable infrastructure and addressing climate change impacts across the region. With a total investment of AUD$5.8 million, including AUD$3.6 million in funding from the Australian Government, these initiatives are set to significantly impact local communities.

The AIFFP through PCIFP will launch a new AUD$75 million long-term off-grid renewable energy program later this year, further enhancing the region’s capacity to mitigate, adapt, and build resilience against climate change.

This announcement brings the total investment under the Off-Grid Renewable Energy Partnerships program to AUD$5.8 million in 13 partnerships across six countries.

These partnerships were selected through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) Call for Partnerships to Support Off-Grid Renewable Energy in the Pacific and Timor-Leste.

Timor-Leste has made a significant leap forward in securing its digital future with the 'Golden Buoy' presentation and the launch of the Timor-Leste South Submarine Cable in Dili. 

This groundbreaking project, delivered by the Government of Timor-Leste, promises to bring faster, cheaper, and more reliable internet connectivity to communities across the nation.

The fibre optic submarine cable has landed in Timor-Leste, marking a significant milestone in the project. Soon, the laying ship will begin deploying the cable along the seabed, connecting it to the North-West Cable System.

Australia is providing advisory support through an AUD7.2 million grant through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP). 

This grant supports the Government of Timor-Leste in the design, manufacture, and installation of the country’s first submarine telecommunications cable. 

Australia's support through the Connecting Timor-Leste to the internet via submarine cable project includes developing a Front-End Engineering Design to explore various cable design and route options, providing procurement support to source a turnkey marine vendor, and assisting with the design and procurement of the project’s landing infrastructure.

Australia’s Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Caitlin Wilson, proudly represented the Australian Government at the 'Golden Buoy' presentation and the launch ceremony. Ambassador Wilson emphasised the project as a testament to the close-knit relationship between Australia and Timor-Leste.

“The Timor-Leste South Submarine Cable will physically link our two countries through a telecommunications conduit. We take great pride in assisting the Government of Timor-Leste in realising this project,” she said.

Timor-Leste remains one of the few countries not connected to an international submarine telecommunications cable. Currently, its internet connectivity relies on satellite and microwave radio, leading to high costs and slow speeds. The introduction of this submarine telecommunications cable is set to revolutionise the nation's digital connectivity, fostering ICT-driven private sector growth and significantly enhancing its global digital presence.

Learn more about the investment  here

Australia's investment is raising safety and efficiency standards in Fiji's road maintenance and construction sectors.

Through its Restoring roads and bridges across Fiji project, the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) has invested AUD71.8 million in Fiji’s transport infrastructure, enhancing road and bridge resilience across Viti Levu. This strategic financing, including an AUD14.7 million grant, supports Fiji's post-pandemic economic recovery and strengthens its climate defenses, exemplifying a robust partnership that bolsters sustainable development and secures critical transport networks.

As part of this investment, the AIFFP in partnership with Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) supported the Fiji Roads Authority to conduct the 'Prepare to Work Safely in the Construction Industry’ course (CPCWHS1001). 

This course provides Fijians with Australian-accredited equivalent construction safety credentials, equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to work confidently and safely in the construction sector and meets FRA's specific work health and safety (WHS) for its road construction and maintenance activities.

The FRA is the first organisation in Fiji seeking to mandate industry recognised WHS certification for its road workers, including contractors.

After a successful pilot and feedback in 2023, it was refined and delivered to 65 FRA inspectors and road renewal contractors earlier this year.

Upon completing the training, workers on construction sites will be equipped with essential safety training, ensuring that they are well-versed in identifying hazards and implementing effective safety protocols.

The AIFFP’s approach prioritises local employment and capacity across its projects, and the road renewal contracts are all locally registered contractors with the majority of workers being local Fijians.

The AIFFP is dedicated to improving Fiji's road safety through skill development. In partnership with FRA and APTC, the AIFFP have customised the general construction induction card training to align with Fiji’s legal framework and FRA’s operational environment.

This training has marked a significant step forward in strengthening the pool of qualified national skills to support FRA’s civil works activities.

The FRA recognises the support of AIFFP in partnership with APTC in facilitating the essential safety training. FRA has stringent policies, standards and procedures in place that ensure compliance and safety standards at the workplace and is continuously looking for opportunities to strengthen safety and efficiency standards through regular trainings and collaborations.

APTC Country Director Fiji and Tuvalu, Mr Gareth McGrath, added that APTC was proud to partner with the AIFFP to support the construction safety course initiative for the FRA.

'The opportunity to deliver the course is the first for Fiji and the APTC is happy to support this initiative, ensuring that participants are trained and empowered with crucial skills, setting a new benchmark for safety and enhancing awareness and accountability among workers and managers within the civil work sector,' he said.

APTC also supported FRA by delivering  International Skills Training to FRA’s three safety officers. This internationally recognised certification equips them with improved competency-based training skills and assessment using global best practices. 

'Now proficient in new skills and tools, these officers are prepared to tackle local challenges and lead safety training for FRA staff, significantly boosting organisational capabilities,' Mr McGrath added.

Future plans for the white card training include rolling out customised white card training on a mandatory basis for all road construction personnel, from casual workers to managers to address the diverse risks present on construction sites. This training ensures that everyone involved upholds the highest safety standards, safeguarding both individual and collective well-being.

Learn more about the Restoring roads and bridges across Fiji project.

Supported by AIFFP financing, the newly upgraded Nui Island harbour in Tuvalu was opened for use to the local community by the Governor General of the Government of Tuvalu alongside Australian Government and Asian Development Bank (ADB) representatives.

On 15 June 2024, Australia’s High Commissioner to Tuvalu, Brenton Garlick, attended the harbour opening. He was joined by the Governor General of Tuvalu, Reverend Sir Tofiga Vaevalu, ADB Country Team Leader Letasi Lulai, Taiwan Ambassador Andrew Lin, and other representatives from the Tuvalu Government and Royal Haskoning.

The improvements to Nui Island harbour form part of the Enhancing boat harbours across Tuvalu project, with Australia through the AIFFP providing AUD21.4 million in co-financing to the ADB to support upgrades to two of Tuvalu's outer island boat harbours. It is the second AIFFP project to be jointly co-financed with the ADB.

With many island communities in Tuvalu dependent on shipping for food and access to essential services and supplies, maritime transport is vital to Tuvalu's economy. The harbour improvements increase the availability and reliability of transport options for both passengers and cargo travelling between Nui and Tuvalu’s capital. Villages and households in more remote communities will have improved access to markets and services, schools and health services.

The works include a new boat ramp, cargo shed and passenger terminal as well as features such as 24-hour solar lighting, guard rails and signage, making it safer for women and children to travel.

The project has delivered local job opportunities, including 10 per cent of the local workforce being women.

The upgrades strengthen Tuvalu's resilience to climate change, with the harbour and landside facilities designed to ensure minimal disruption to Tuvaluans’ livelihoods in the event of severe weather.

Australia is proud to invest in high-quality, critical infrastructure projects which generate sustained economic and development benefits for Tuvaluan communities.

[Read the media release]

[Read more about the  investment]

The Australian Government has today announced seven new business partnerships to support small-scale, off-grid renewable energy in remote and rural areas across the Pacific and Timor-Leste.

The Off-Grid Renewable Energy Partnerships are part of the Australian Government’s Pacific Climate Infrastructure Financing Partnership (PCIFP) initiative to expand the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific’s (AIFFP) climate investments. It does this by partnering with businesses to deliver reliable and sustainable renewable energy to remote and rural communities in the Pacific and Timor-Leste, implemented by the BPP. 

Today’s announcement brings the total investment to AUD4.3 million in 10 Off-Grid Renewable Energy Partnerships, across six countries. This includes AUD2.8 million by the Australian Government, with the remaining investment by partners through cash or in-kind contributions.

The Off-Grid Renewable Energy Partnerships include:

Piloting a sustainable solar energy model for Fiji’s remote school communities

Partnership between Its Time Foundation and the Australian Government to future-proof solar energy systems through effective maintenance, enabling schools in remote Fiji communities to benefit from reliable and renewable energy. This partnership launched in May 2024. 

Empowering local women and enabling greater access to clean energy and water in Kiribati

Partnership between Action on Poverty, Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific and the Australian Government to empower local women and enable greater access to electricity and water on Aranuka, one of  Kiribati’s remote outer islands. 

Accelerating access to renewable energy and jobs for remote Papua New Guinea communities

Partnership between Sola PayGo, MiBank and the Australian Government to enable greater access to renewable energy and job opportunities for Papua New Guinea’s most remote communities, increasing take up of solar energy while also enabling local community members, particularly women, to gain employment to promote renewable energy solutions and maintain local services through technical support. This partnership launched in February 2024. 

Lighting the way for Kokoda College’s sustainable future in Papua New Guinea 

Partnership between Kokoda Track Foundation, Kokoda College and the Australian Government to transform Kokoda College’s students’ outcomes through greater access to reliable and sustainable off-grid energy. 

Securing access to renewable energy on Solomon Islands’ Savo Island

Partnership between Archipelago Energy and the Australian Government to support the Savo Island community gain access to renewable solar energy while powering the economic development of the island.

Powering Solomon Islands’ Vavanga community with affordable renewable energy

Partnership between Pelena and the Australian Government to power up the Vavanga community with a micro-hydro system enabling every household to gain access to affordable, reliable energy, while creating new opportunities for the community’s economic development.

Energising Solomon Islands’ Malaita community with affordable solar power

Partnership between Superfly, Save the Children Solomon Islands, Mai-Ma’asina Green Belt and the Australian Government to trial an adaptable, scalable and economically-viable model for addressing the challenges of reliable energy in rural Solomon Island communities. 

Generating energy security for essential healthcare in Solomon Islands

Partnership between Superfly Limited, the Good Samaritan Hospital and the Australian Government to build a more resilient healthcare system in Tetere through greater energy security. This partnership launched in February 2024. 

Catalysing coffee through renewable energy for off-grid communities in Timor-Leste

Partnership between Engineers Without Borders Australia, Raw Material, Mara Mresa and the Australian Government to establish renewable-energy powered coffee hubs, empowering off-grid communities in Timor Leste by providing access to energy and improving coffee production for global specialty markets. 

Strengthening women's control and access to clean and affordable energy in Vanuatu

Partnership between ActionAid Australia, Women TokTok Tugeta (WITT) Network, PowerWells and the Australian Government to empower women in Vanuatu to control and access renewable, reliable and sustainable energy for the benefit of themselves and their communities. 

More partnerships will be announced in July 2024.

These partnerships were selected through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) Call for Partnerships to Support Off-Grid Renewable Energy in the Pacific and Timor-Leste.

A landmark event recently provided a unique opportunity for development partners, including the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), to collaborate in their collective commitment to delivering on the Pacific Quality Infrastructure Principles, endorsed by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in 2023.

The inaugural Pacific Infrastructure Business Opportunities Seminar, held in Nadi, Fiji from 22-23 May 2024, brought together over 300 delegates from Pacific governments, the private sector, development partners, and civil society organisations.

Hosted by the Government of Fiji and the Asian Development Bank, in partnership with the Australian Government and the World Bank, this landmark event aimed to enhance collaboration and explore the infrastructure development priorities for the Pacific region.

Keynote presentations by Pacific governments and development partners showcased consolidated project pipelines, emphasizing the region's commitment to sustainable infrastructure growth. The seminar highlighted some USD2 billion in opportunities in key sectors such as transport, energy, water, ICT, and social infrastructure (health and education), providing a comprehensive overview of the 2024-2025 infrastructure initiatives.

In support of the Pacific Quality Infrastructure Principles, the seminar featured panel discussions on how different country procurement systems can maximise positive impacts through integrating environmental, social, climate resilience, and economic considerations.

Representatives from the AIFFP played a key role in the seminar, including leading two masterclasses on local content. These sessions focused on how to enhance the amount of infrastructure spending that is retained in and adds value to the Pacific economy. 

The first masterclass, tailored for Pacific officials from Ministries of Finance, Public Works and Utilities, delved into strategies to ensure opportunities for local participation are integrated into all stages of the project. The session provided a forum to share good practices in designing procurement models that can deliver the Pacific's aspirations for stronger local involvement and industry growth.

The second session engaged industry professionals, offering practical tips on addressing sustainability and value-for-money criteria in bids. The AIFFP provided insights on preparing high-quality Local Content and Industry Participation Plans, a core requirement for large-scale infrastructure projects financed by the AIFFP.

The event highlighted vast opportunities for generating jobs for Pacifica people, as well as opportunities to diversify and grow capabilities of local industry through partnerships with other experienced firms from within and outside the region.  There was a clear call to action from Pacific government participants for all development finance partners and industry to prioritise local participation to amplify economic benefits, reduce costs, and ensure sustainability of Pacific infrastructure. 

Learn more about the Pacific Infrastructure Business Opportunities Seminar. 

School children in remote Fijian communities are expected to benefit from more reliable, renewable energy in their classrooms, thanks to the latest Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) Off-Grid Renewable Energy Partnership announced this week.

Through the Pacific Climate Infrastructure Financing Partnership (PCIFP), the Australian Government is teaming up with Its Time Foundation to invest $278,000AUD ($417,924.37FJD) in the design and development of an effective model of monitoring and maintenance for solar energy systems installed by Its Time Foundation within remote Fijian school communities. This includes $210,000AUD ($312,448 FJD) by the Australian Government with the remaining investment by Its Time Foundation through cash or in-kind contributions. 

The two-year partnership will kick off with a solar installation at Buakonikai Primary School on Rabi Island, as a model of high-quality design, installation and remote monitoring that will minimise demand for future maintenance. An independent maintenance funding model will be developed to ensure future resources are available to meet ongoing maintenance needs, aiming to be scalable for other school communities in Fiji and other remote Pacific communities. 

Australia is committed to climate action in Fiji, with a focus on ensuring that renewable energy remains through sustainable through effective operations and maintenance. By doing so, it will support Fijian school children in remote communities to power up their education and achieve better outcomes through reliable energy access now and for future generations.

Its Time Foundation’s Founder, Rob Edwards OAM, said “We’re excited to build on our record of installing 30 remote school solar systems in Fiji to develop a sustainable maintenance and funding model that will keep the lights on for remote school communities in Fiji and beyond, now and into the future. 

“This will enable children and young people in remote communities to access all the benefits of a modern education that increasingly relies on computers and other electronic resources, while improving the quality of life for the wider community and reducing carbon emissions.”

The Off-Grid Renewable Energy Partnerships are part of the PCIFP’s initiative to expand AIFFP’s climate investments by partnering with businesses to deliver reliable and sustainable renewable energy to remote and rural communities in the Pacific and Timor-Leste, implemented by the Business Partnerships Platform (BPP). 

This is the third partnership to be announced and the first for Fiji. More partnerships will be announced soon.

Find out more about the partnerships here: https://thebpp.com.au/partnership/piloting-a-sustainable-solar-energy-model-for-fijis-remote-school-communities/